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ERMELINDA - a Modern World Premiere

An opera composed by Domenico Freschi in 1680 - Libretto by Francesco Maria Piccioli - Created at Teatro delle Vergini in Villa Contarini.

The plot, which unfolds in Phoenicia, features two young lovers Ermelinda and Ormindo, a tyrannical father and two trouble makers. Ermelinda is not allowed to love Ormindo and will have to endure the stratagems and machinations fabricated by the other characters who want to split them. From mad scenes to fake deaths, every ruse and artifice will be used to make mischief. Will Ermelinda's determination and cleverness outsmart her enemies?

The opera, will be semi-staged and sung in Italian with English supertitles.

CREATIVE TEAM

Stage Director: Céline Ricci

Conductor: Jory Vinikour

Costume Designer: Matthew Nash

Projections Designer: Ryan Ferriera

Light Designer: Thomas Bowersox

Stage Manager: Elisabeth Reeves

Translation: Joe McClinton

CAST

Ermelinda: Nikola Printz

Ormondo Prince of Phoenicia: Sara Couden

Rosaura: Kindra Scharich

Aristeo: Justin Montigne

Armidoro: Deborah Rosengaus

“Ars Minerva presented a powerful case for this unknown piece, accomplishing the goal of pulling the camera back to include a fuller view of the musical past, in all its range and complexity.”

Joshua Kosman for the San Francisco Chronicle

Ars Minerva was founded in 2013 by Céline Ricci with a vision for a new performing arts organization that would recreate forgotten music and create multidisciplinary events around early music, while remaining locally rooted and outreach-oriented.

Since its inception, Ars Minerva has presented the modern world premieres of three long-forgotten Venetian operas in San Francisco: La Cleopatra (1662), Le Amazzoni nelle Isole Fortunate (1676) and La Circe (1665) and Ifigenia in Aulide (1738).

Ermelinda is made possible thanks to the Sam Mazza Foundation and the Musical Grant Program.
The Musical Grant Program is administrated by InterMusicSF, and supported by the Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation, The Hewlett Foundation and the San Francisco Grants for the Arts